The Obama administration announced a comprehensive set of new federal actions to combat the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and protect public health. Additionally, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a related report on Combating Antibiotic Resistance.

"Yesterday was a major milestone for ARLG," reports Heather Cross, D.Phil., ARLG Program Leader at the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

“The Executive Order requires the Task Force to describe steps that departments and agencies should take to encourage the development of new and next-generation antibiotics, diagnostics, and alternatives to traditional antibiotics. This includes steps to strengthen infrastructure for clinical trials, such as the Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG), to reduce obstacles faced by drug companies who are developing new antibiotics as well as develop options for attracting greater private investment in the development of new antibiotics and rapid, point-of-care diagnostics.”

From the PCAST report:

“The Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG) launched in 2013 by the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) might provide a strong foundation for the proposed clinical trials infrastructure.”